Midwest Deaf Golfers Association
Spring 2006 Newsletter

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Message from the Host
 
This year, we will be playing in northern Michigan for the second time in MDGA history.  In 1963, MDGA played in Manistee on Lake Michigan.
 
The Marsh Ridge resort is very relaxing, it is a private resort with a large outdoor pool, indoor sauna, hot tub, full-service restaurant, golf shop, driving range, putting greens, and a beautiful golf course.
 
We will play on two different courses, first on The Natural, then Marsh Ridge on Wednesday and back to the Natural on Thursday.  Available practice rounds are Sunday afternoon at the Natural and Monday morning at Marsh Ridge.
 
The Natural golf course is only a short five-mile drive around Otsego Lake from the Marsh Ridge resort.  It is a classic golf course, very playable, beautiful clubhouse, and trees everywhere.
 
Marsh Ridge is shorter than The Natural, but more difficult, a few holes are pretty tight, all par 3 holes are very challenging.  We will set up both courses at a slope rating of around 125 for the regulars.
 
We are sure some of the golfers would want to play other golf courses in the Gaylord area.  There are 20 other courses within a half-hour of the Marsh Ridge resort.  The Treetops resort is very famous, but also very expensive.  Black Forest and the Treetops Robert Trent Jones original course are the most difficult courses in the area.  Black Bear is a fun course to play, and at a very good price, just $25 for 19 holes with a cart for MDGA golfers.
 
There is a casino about 35-40 miles from Marsh Ridge, but we plan to host a Texas Hold ‘Em poker contest on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  If you think you can play poker, come on down and play for a small fee.  If you wish to do some gambling at the casino instead of the poker game, we will arrange for a bus ride from the resort to the casino.
 
For the putting contest, Marsh Ridge has a huge putting green with three or four large hills. That putting green will challenge everybody.
 
The Marsh Ridge resort will hold about 135 people.  If it is full, there are plenty of other hotels in the Gaylord area.  We suggest that you reserve your room at Marsh Ridge as early as possible.
 
I look forward to seeing you all there in August!
Chairman Hubert (Allan) Ruessman
 
Word from the Prez
 
It is very exciting for me to welcome you all to Michigan, my home state.  The Gaylord area is a very popular vacation spot and I am positive you will enjoy your stay at the Marsh Ridge resort.
 
Believe it or not, Michigan golfers were playing golf in January.  We had warmer than usual December and January, but February was a cold month and March is now warming up a bit.  If you wondering, no, I have not played since October. I start playing in April after the Masters golf tourney and usually stop playing in October.
 
Last summer, Co-chairman Doug Schnoor said there were millions of trees at the Mississippi National golf courses.  You will have the same feeling in this year’s tournament, on both courses, but especially at The Natural.
 
I apologize for the Fall 2005 newsletter which you should have received last fall, but you will receive at the same time as this Spring 2006 newsletter.  We will make sure it does not happen again.
 
Please always feel free to contact me at deafgolfnut@comcast.net or 517 694 0833 (Sorenson VP) for any MDGA questions or comments.  I will be happy to hear from you.
 
See you in August!
Darrell
 
 
Multiple MDGA Champions
 
Last year, John Rush joined this list of fourteen multiple MDGA champions.
 
7 – Bill Roberts ('91–'96, '00)
6 – Michael Maxwell ('83, '85–'86, '88–'90)
5 – Herbert Deurmyer ('50–'53, '57)
5 – Norman Artz ('65, '68, '84, '87, '98)
4 – Jack Kunz ('56, '60–'61, '76)
3 – Clyde Heberlein ('49, '55, '58)
3 – Richard Opseth ('62, '64, '66)
3 – Robert Bouchillion ('67, '69–'70)
3 – Arthur Gendreau ('73, '77–'78)
2 – Ray Kessenich ('47, '54)
2 – George Dudas ('63, '75)
2 – William Tonigan ('74, '02)
2 – Robert Ritch (‘03–’04)
2 – John Rush (‘82, ‘05)
 
Other Deaf Golf Tournaments
 
The Baton Rouge Association of the Deaf is hosting the 48th annual Southwest Deaf Golfers Association tournament on June 13th to 15th.  For more info, go to http://www.mdga1947.org/swdga.htm.  This means, in two years, the Southwest Deaf Golfers will be hosting their 50th annual tournament.
 
The North Carolina Deaf Golfers are hosting this year's 37th annual SEDGA tournament at the Sea Trail resort in Sunset Beach, NC, and just one mile from the Atlantic Ocean on June 20th through 22nd.  Go to www.sedga.org for more information
 
The World Deaf Golf Federation will be hosting their 6th World Deaf Golf Championships July 18th to 21st in Edmonton, Canada.  Two Midwestern golfers are participating in this tournament, Bill Roberts and Darrell Hovinen.  For now, Brandon Babineaux is a part-time Midwesterner.  He lives in Texas during winter and Minnesota during summer, while working at Stone Ridge GC in Stillwater.  Go to www.2006wdgc.com for more info.
 
The Far West Golf Association of the Deaf will be hosting their 37th annual FWGAD tournament in Idaho on August 8th to 10th.  Go to www.fwgad.org for more information.
 
The Wolverine Deaf Golfers of Michigan will be hosting their 50th annual tournament on September 9th and 10th in Battle Creek.  The golf course is very familiar to Midwestern deaf golfers.  It was the site of the 1994 NDGA and the 1998 MDGA tourneys.  Yes, it will be at Marywood, GC.  Unfortunately, their beautiful clubhouse and banquet facility burned down a few years ago.  There is no website yet, maybe this year Darrell Hovinen will finally set up a website for the Wolverine Deaf Golfers.
 
In memoriam, Gil Lentz (1957 – 2005)
 
Last summer, Gil Lentz was a wonderful emcee for the MDGA/MDLGA banquet.  He enjoyed being the emcee even though he was not from Minnesota. 
 
He also established the ADGEF (American Deaf Golf Education Foundation) with long-time friend Neil Johnson, to teach American Deaf golfers the game of golf.  
 
It was very unexpected to hear of his death last September.  He was planning to go to Illinois Deaf Golfers Association’s 25th annual tournament for an ADGEF golf clinic with Neil, but he passed away the week before.
 
Gil had been a long-time FWGAD member.  The FWGAD is putting together a memorial to Gil on their website.  At this time, it is not ready.  Go to www.fwgad.org for viewing when it is ready.
 
 
Kevin Hall, professional Deaf golfer
 
In February 2006, Kevin Hall did something no other Deaf golfer has done.  He played in the AT&T pro-am golf tournament.  He was given a sponsor’s exemption.
 
His first practice round was at Spyglass Hill.  At that time, he said it was the most awesome course he had ever played.  But, the next day, he played Pebble Beach and changed his mind.
 
In the tournament, He shot 72 in the first round at Pebble Beach but then shot 81 the next day at Poppy Hills and 80 at Spyglass Hill and missed the cut.  Wonder if any FWGAD golfers showed up to cheer him on?
 
 
Future MDGA Tournaments
 
     2007 – Springfield, Illinois
     2008 – Iowa
     2009 – Wisconsin
     2010 – Indiana
     2011 – Open for bid
     2012 – Open for bid